KOGELO, Kenya (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama urged Kenya’s leaders on Monday to turn their backs on the divisive ethnic politics that have frequently spilled over into violence and to stamp down on corruption.

Opening a school in his father’s home village of Kogelo in western Kenya, Obama praised a rapprochement between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga but said they must do more to heal the rifts between Kenya’s 40-odd ethnic groups.

In the worst recent outbreak of ethnic conflict, 1,200 people were killed in fighting that followed disputed elections involving Odinga and Kenyatta in 2007.

“It means no longer seeing different ethnicities as enemies or rivals but rather as allies; in seeing the diversity of tribes not as a weakness but as a strength,” Obama, whose father was Kenyan, said.

America’s first black president, whose eight years in office preceded Donald Trump’s election in November 2016, was in Kenya to open the center, which is run by his half sister Auma through her charity, the Sauti Kuu Foundation.

Should follow his own advise, biggest racist around. Divided our country. We were better off in the 60’s. Caused hate and allowed everything unchristian to run rampart in this country. Gave us the worst healthcare every in this country. Caused 17 people being shot in Florida with his stupid school plan. We will suffer for years from him. Hope President Trump can keep on undoing what he has done.